An example of utilitarianism in medical field?
In the medical field, utilitarianism is a widely accepted ethical framework used to guide decision-making and allocate resources in a manner that maximizes overall benefit and minimizes harm. Here's an example of utilitarianism in action:
Scenario: Organ Transplantation
A hospital has a limited supply of a life-saving organ (e.g., heart or kidney) for transplantation. Multiple patients are waiting urgently, each with varying chances of survival and expected quality of life after the transplant.
Utilitarian Approach:
1. Assessing Benefits: The medical team evaluates each patient's medical condition, prognosis, and potential outcomes after transplantation. They consider factors such as their current quality of life, age, overall health, and the expected number of additional years they could live with a successful transplant.
2. Maximizing Overall Utility: The utilitarian principle aims to maximize the total amount of well-being or happiness in the given situation. In this case, it involves selecting the patient who stands to benefit the most in terms of improved quality and quantity of life post-transplant.
3. Calculating QALY (Quality-Adjusted Life Year): Utilitarianism often employs QALY, a metric that combines both the duration and quality of life. The medical team calculates the estimated QALY gain for each patient, taking into account their expected years of survival and the impact of the transplant on their quality of life.
4. Allocating the Organ: Based on the QALY calculations and other relevant factors, the decision is made to allocate the organ to the patient who has the highest expected QALY gain. In utilitarianism, this choice aims to maximize the overall benefit to society.
It's important to note that utilitarianism in medical decision-making does not solely focus on saving the greatest number of lives. Instead, it considers a broader range of factors to ensure that resources are used efficiently and equitably, resulting in the greatest net balance of benefits over harms.